Artificial foot



July 7, 1953 A. emsom ARTIFIciAL Foo'r File'ci ma 6:, 1950 Patented July 7, 1953 Application my 6 ,1950, Serial No. 160,440 In Italy May 6, 1949 6 Claims.

The present invention refers to an artificial foot structure articulated, so as to perfectly du-'- plicate movements of a natural limb. According j to the invention the rigid foot body made of any suitable material is fixed on a metallic support having two articulations whose axes are perpendicular to each other so as to allow both the longitudinal articulation and the transverse articulation of the leg relative to the foot body, there being also provided an articulation between the toe and the remainder of the foot body.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide means facilitating easy and secure assembly of the few parts of which the artificial foot structure consists.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means affording a sturdy" artificial foot 7 structure which is extremely light in weight, has

great elasticity and flexibility and to a high 'degree approaches the function and movements of the human foot.

These and other objects will ensue from the following description and the appended drawing which illustrates diagrammatically by way of an example an embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is sectional view of the foot embodying the invention,

Figs. 2 and 3 represent two sectional views respectively taken along lines A-A and 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The artificial foot body may be made of any suitable rigid material such as wood, synthetic resins or metal. Between the front end or toe I of the foot and the rear portion I thereof there is interposed a cushion 2 made of rubber or similar elastic material, free between the two (front and rear) portions of the foot, since the rigid part of same, as well as said rubber cushion 2, are fixed by means of rivets, screws, or cement on a foot-sole l8 of rubberized cambric or the like. There is thus obtained an articulation which allows the artificial foot to bend in a way similar to the foot toes of a human foot, while the foot-sole ensures an elastic or flexed walk.

The inner foot support comprises a lower portion 3 and an upper portion 4. Said support is fixed to the body of the foot consisting of wood or the like, by means of bolts 5 which are threaded through the foot and are tightened by means of two nuts 6 recessed within respective cavities of the foot body, so as not to project beyond the foot sole. The lower portion 3 is adapted to swing about a longitudinal axis 9 passing through said support 3 and two end bushings Ill, I0 through which extend pins I. Said bushings Ill,

2 IE have lateral extensions 1 l, pivotally joined to the upper portion 4, while between said extensions and the wooden foot body I cushions l2 are let in the very wood body, as it is shown in Figs.

2'and 3. The artificial foot is thus capable of swinging about the longitudinal axis in an angle represented in Figs. 2 and 3 by arrows H.

The upper portion 4 of the support is articulated'about an axis l3 which passes through the lower portion 3 adjacent the already mentioned extensions H.

The upper portion 4 includes two lateral extensions Hl, l5 at different heights, which, together with extensions l5 and Id of the lower portion, constitute the lateral shoulders for the longitudinal swinging motion of the foot. Between said shoulders l4l4' and Iii-I5 there are inserted rubber cushions [6-41 to allow for an elastic movement.-

In this 'way, the artificial foot actually possesses three articulations. The first one is established at rubber cushion 2; a second one is established about axis 9, to allow for the movements from inward and outward bending, and elastically limited by lateral cushions l2, and the third one is achieved about the transverse axis l3, the longitudinal movements being elastically limited by cushions I6 and l1.

At its upper end the support 3, 4 terminates in the conventional, manner in a collar IQ for the connectionto the leg, while the whole foot is lined with a layer of foam rubber 20, cemented to the rubberized fabric foot sole and provided with a stufiing 2|, also of foam rubber, for the protection of the foot.

Of course the constructive details of the artificial foot, the elasticity of the cushions that allow the articulated movements etc. may vary according to the foot size and the weight it has to bear, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. An artificial foot structure comprising a rigid foot portion, a support for said foot portion, said support being provided with a lower portion and with an upper portion articulated to said lower portion, said lower portion including a first axis extending in longitudinal direction of said foot portion, said upper portion being arranged for swinging movement about a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis, respective lateral extensions projecting from said lower support portion and from said upper support portion, said lower support portion including bushings connected with said lateral extensions of said lower support portion, and a plurality of elastic cushioning means in contact with said bushings, with said lateral extensions of said lower support portion, and with said lateral extensions of said upper support portion, whereby the extent of swinging movements of said upper support portion about said axes is defined.

2. An artificial foot structure comprising a rigid foot portion, a support for said foot portion, said support being provided with a lower portion and'with an upper portion articulated to said lower portion, said lower portion including a first axis extending in longitudinal direction of said foot portion, saidupper portion being arranged for swinging movement about a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis,

. respective lateral extensions projecting from said lower support portion and from said upper support portion, said lower support portion including bushings connected with said lateral extensions of said. lower support portion, and .respec-, tive elastic cushioning means in contact with said lateral extensions of said upper and lower support portions whereby the extent 01 swinging movements of said upper support portion about said axes is defined.

-3. An artificial -foot' structure comprising a rigid foot portion, "a support for said foot portion, said support being provided with a lower portion and with an :upper portion articulated to said lower portion, said-lower portion including a first axis extending in longitudinal direction of said foot portion, said upper portionbeing arranged for swinging movement about a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis, respective lateral extensions projecting from said lower support portion and from said upper support portion, said lower support portion including bushings connected with said lateral extensions of said lower support portion, and respective elastic cushioning means interpositioned between said lateral extensions of said upper and said lower support portions.

4.. An artificial foot structure comprising a rigid foot portion, a support for said .foot portion, said support beingprovided with a lower portion and with an upper portion articulated to said lower portion, said lower portion including a first axis extending in longitudinal direction of said foot portion, said upper portion being ar ranged for swinging movement about a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis, respective lateral extensions projecting from said lower support portion and from said upper support portion, respective elastic cushioning means interpositioned between said lateral extensions of said upper and said lower support portions, a rubberized base layer on which said foot portion rests, and a foam rubber lining surrounding said foot portion and extending from said rubberized base layer for contact with and surrounding said upper support portion, said foam rubber lining being affixed to said base layer.

5. An artificial foot structure comprising a rigid foot portion including a toe portion, a support for said foot portion, said support being provided with a lower portion and with an upper portion articulated to said lower portion, said lower portion including a first axis extending in' longitudinal direction of said foot portion, said upper portion being arranged for swinging movement about .a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis, respective lateral extensions projecting. from said lower support portion and from ,saidupper support portion, respective elastic cushioning means .interpositioned between said lateral extensions of said upper and said lowersupport portions, further cushioning means intermediate said toe portion and the remainder of said foot portion, and a rubberized layer forming the base of said foot structure,'said further.

cushioning means being secured to said rubberized base, said toe portion and the remainder of said foot portion .freely abutting against said. vfurther cushioning means. 1

6. An artificial foot structure according to claim 4, whereinsaid base layer is provided with openings, and fastening means recessed in said openings to affix said lower support portion tn said .foot portion.

ANGELO GRISONT.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,379,293 Winn May 24, 1921 2,127,566 Malloy-Brehunofi Aug. 23, 1938 2,464,393 Havens Mar. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 518,258 Great Britain Feb. 21, 1940 

